Feijoa sellowiana Coolidge

The Brazilian Guava or Feijoa sellowiana 'Coolidge' is a beautiful tree, a true wonder for mild climates. It can be grown in the same zone as the kiwi and it offers a beautiful mahogany bark, very beautiful evergreen foliage with shiny green almond reverse, edible flowers and delicious green fruits of good size, whose aroma evokes pineapple, guava, and strawberry. This self-fertile variety bears fruit without a partner, but will be more productive if the tree is planted near another subject. Its cultivation in full sun and favourable climate presents no difficulty: it tolerates a wide range of soils and withstands heat and drought well, which will however harm the quality and abundance of the harvest.

The Acca sellowiana, also called Montevideo Guava or Feijoa, is an evergreen tree belonging to the myrtle family, just like Eucalyptus and Myrtles, with which it shares an ornamental flowering adorned with long prominent stamens. It is native to the subtropical regions of Brazil and Argentina. Despite its origins, the tree itself is relatively hardy, down to -15°C (5°F), regrowing from the stump when it is completely frozen. But although it may grow, it will not bear fruit or even flower in too-cold climates. Reaching about 4m (13.12 ft) in height and 2m (6.56 ft) in spread in our latitudes, the 'Coolidge' Feijoa is a self-fertile New Zealand cultivar yielding more fruits than the species and of a larger size (up to 9cm (3.5 in) long and 160 to 170 grams). It is a slow-growing tree with a reddish-brown bark and a bushy habit, which can be trained as a small single-trunk tree or as a hedge. Its evergreen foliage is tough, composed of opposite, simple, entire, ovate leaves, shiny grey-green on the top and white-grey underneath. The young shoots are covered with a whitish down. It flowers on the young shoots in late spring, June in mild climates. Its fleshy flowers with exceptional patterns seem to be made of white wax. On their rolled-up pink petals with white reverse, a large bunch of bright red stamens is posed. If the summer is long and hot enough, they will transform into oval, green fruits the size of a large kiwi, with smooth skin and white flesh, rich in vitamin C. The fruits are harvested in autumn and only ripen in regions with mild winters. It is sometimes difficult to assess the ripeness of the fruit: the simplest way is to taste one that seems slightly softer. Hard fruits that fall spontaneously to the ground can be kept in the refrigerator until Christmas. They continue to ripen at room temperature. Their flavour has a pronounced exotic connotation, slightly acidic but sweet and very tasty when fully ripe.

The Brazilian Guava is a wonderful tree that can be reminiscent of an olive tree, both ornamental and fruitful. In the garden, in warm oceanic climates or in Mediterranean areas, it can be planted as a hedge or in isolation. It tolerates sea spray well and can be planted by the seaside. It will also perform very well in a large container in cooler regions. It is cultivated in the same zones as the kiwi, with fruiting occurring at the same time. The flowers are edible: their petals have a fruity, sweet and tangy flavour that can bring an exotic note to savoury or sweet salads. The feijoa can be eaten raw, cut in half and enjoyed with a spoon, or transformed into exceptional jams and lightly sweetened compotes, which can be stored in the freezer. It is a delicate fruit with a subtle flavour that does not keep well, which probably explains why it is so rare on the market stalls!